Comments on: Thrifty vs Green and Ethical

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:28:38 +0000

I realise this is an old post but have only just found your website and love it. My husband, me and the kids are finally having a mostly vegetarian diet, although we are eating fish twice a week. This is because we have been buying responsibly farmed meat for a while eg free range chicken, british pork etc but it has just got so expensive. Fish can be bought locally (we live next to the sea) and cheaply ( and so fresh!!!). I have found this has helped with my IBS and as soon as i introduce any meat again it flares back up (bacon is my weakness!!) My children surprisingly have loved all the meals i have been cooking and are more than happy to eat organic veg. My hubby does miss the meat so once a month we will have a free range organic roast chicken to satisfy his cravings!!!!

By: Ackers

Ackers — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 21:17:21 +0000

Thanks so much for these latest comments. Strange that Sian wrote today when just last week I made a decision to be open minded about the term ‘organic’ when I got taking with our local butcher and his attitude towards the organic labelling of meat. The meat he stocks is essentially organic in that it is outdoor reared down the road from us here, humanely treated during their lives and slaughtered near to the farm they are raised on. They have pictures of happy roaming pigs and chickens but cannot sell it as organic due to them not neither the farm not the butcher’s shop being certified by the soil association. I would prefer to give him my business than Tesco who do stock a wide range of officially organic meat. I trust his judgement.

By: Sian

Sian — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:05:30 +0000

Hiya, I must say I think ‘organic’ is one of those buzz words…where did it come from!?! I swear it wasn’t banded around as much 10 years ago. I prefer to buy local rather than organic. I buy my dairy products from local producers, I buy my meat from the local farm shop – not one of those fancy schmancy farm shops but one where 90% of the produce is actually from the farm and not flown in from Africa (that’s one of the pitfalls of ‘organic’). My local farmer couldn’t afford to officially register themselves as organic even though they don’t use any chemicals and meet all the requirements. I’ve managed to keep costs down by making things from scratch and also from using frozen and tinned veg. I think people tend to forget frozen veg is almost as good as fresh, in fact ‘fresh’ veg is often not as fresh as you think. Sometimes it could have been sitting around in warehouses for days! I’ve recently been out picking blackberries and apples, and making soups and chutneys as well. At least by making things you can see what has gone into it. If you do get the opportunity to grow your own veg than I highly recommend it, children seem to love it and they learn so much about where their food comes from.

By: KH

KH — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:03:44 +0000

Hi,

Most chickens and turkeys are intensively produced – feed is mostly processed grain mix with other stuff added. A book that has lots more info is ‘Not on the Label’ by F.Lawrence.
However, when it comes to meat (beef/lamb/pork), conventionally produced is not the same as intensively produced. This is partly where we found a small butcher useful (ours uses local suppliers who he is willing to name and it works out cheaper than the supermarket).
If you want your produce free of chemicals (especially important with fruit like apples which are liberally sprayed), organic is the way to go.
Another great book is ‘The Vitamin Murders’ by Fergusson. It looks at how food production has changed in Europe over the past few decades. Both the books I have mentioned are factual (despite their titles) and I first read them from our public library.

By: Ackers

Ackers — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:13:01 +0000

Hi KH

That’s really interesting and thanks very much for taking the time to comment. I was under the impression that all intensively farmed poultry (chickens, turkeys etc) were given antibiotics in their feed as a matter of course otherwise they would just not live long enough in those filthy, appaling conditions to make profitable meat.

I guess even if some of my fears are unfounded at least by shopping organically wherever possible and when affordable I am supporting farmers and food producers who feel the same way I do about the condition of soil and how animals are treated.

Cathie

By: KH

KH — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:51:58 +0000

I just want to clarify something – in the UK antibiotics are only given to sick animals. While using antibiotics, their milk is not permitted to enter our food chain. On entry to the processing plant, the tanker is tested and if any antibiotic is found, the whole tanker is discarded (samples are also taken en route, so any contamination can be traced to a specific farm). These procedures are followed for our safety.

By: Palm Springs Savant

Palm Springs Savant — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:42:14 +0000

Well done. I think it is an excellent idea to try to buy more organic foods, if for no other reason than to reduce the levels of pesticides we consume. Good luck with your transition!

By: Sharon J

Sharon J — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:22:15 +0000

Organic food certainly costs quite a bit more, that’s true, although I’ve found some good deals at local farms shops. I’m afraid the carnivore in me is having difficulty giving up meat so I do understand your husband – hopefully I’ll be able to cut my food bills next year by growing more of my own produce too.